Seed science and banking networks for plant conservation

the role of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew

Abstract

Addressing the grand challenges of providing adequate supplies of water, food and energy in the future to an ever growing human population without the decimation of biodiversity demands innovations in plant science and an accelerated effort in conservation. The scale of intervention necessary will be advanced most rapidly through collaborative networks. This paper highlights eight seed science and banking networks involving the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, UK since 2000. The networks, which span 66 countries including the UK, have: 1) provided understanding in the seed biology of tropical trees, orchids, halophytes and medicinal plants; 2) developed new cryo-storage methods for crops and horticultural species; and 3) helped to conserve the European and world's dryland flora.